The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-05-26
EDUOATION NO. Nv.
Practice. the CrippIe-- Cropping In the Dark
Jg 81. -~The Road to KnowlsdRs.

II .sThe Road to knowledge.
2 Little did contemplate writing a
series Of articles on education and our
school system whom / sent y0u the frat
brief article entitled, ''Is it TeachinR?"
which appeared In the DAILY DRAiOCRAT,
May 11th. Neither did l expect to con-
tinue the articles when the second was
written, which was In your daily Of the
14th; under the caption Of shall Can
ton have revival Of learningp"
The subject, however, expanding
with me As l 60 on, am here with aRti
Gle ~, and not yet through. Truly
would IL grRtify, could help 20 correct
error5 and improve our schools; SOW q
little good seed that would reach frul.
tiOn, and enable the cripple, practice, to
overtake at times, In Its flight, the bird
theory.
This case illustrates human life. We
little dream of the work we shall be
called upon, or feel called upon to do;
or, when done, as to Its real value, and
estimation In the opinion Of others.
1t Is said contemporaries appreciate
the man rather than the merit; but DOS
terity will regard the merit rather than
the man. The distinguished Blair com
plains Of the, ,desrth of good historians In
his day, an era that could boast OF Hume,
GlDb0n and Robertson. All this should
teach Us humility In Judgment, and to
be less arrogant In opinion.
Let 1t not be forgotten that our
schools are what the teachers make
them, for the Board of Education has
little or nothing more to 10 than to EN-
pl0y, provide and order pay. As to the
qualifications of those employed to teach,
the members of the Board seldom have
the means, or are able, to Judge. 1t is
therefore, mostly q mere cropping III the
dark.
The members Of the Board are salts.
fed Of course that those they employ to
teach have obtained certificates from
the Board Of Examiners; but rarely, If
ever, does one Of the Board of kducatiOn
look into the examination papers Of
those they employ, or attend the exsmi-
nation In person, to hear the candidates
read our English tongue, or converse
with them In order to Judge Of their
powers, Of conversation or general In
telllgenCe. More cropping In the dark
"in this enlightened age" In Canton!
A teacher, like writer, does the most
who gives his pupils the most knOwl-
edge, and takes from them the least
time. In these days Of numerous Rppli-
cants, 1t is perhaps OF more consequence
to know which to avoid, than which to
choose; for teacher once In place, is In
possession, and may continue for some
time, even though quite inferior. II
should be remembered that the teacher
who shortens the road to knowledge,
lsngthens life.
This road to knowledge should be
made pleasant, as we'll as profitable and
peaceful. 1t Is to be regretted, however,
that, In our schools, this result "a too
too often, into disgust that terminates
school life, long before 1t ought to close
with our youth. How important the
teacher should know to point and
sm0Othe the wRyl
Contrast this condition, above refer.
red to, with the kindergarten schools of
FrOebel. In these, there Ia harmonious
development Of the child's whole nature;
no di9agEeesble enforcement OF unat-
trsctiVe, unmeRning lessons. Here the
children are genuinely happy, pleas
antly and DrOhtably occupied; no dry,
uninteresting tasks are imposed. The
children are happy In their agreeable
activity and reCeptivity; and thus Is
we'll and securely rooted the love Of
knowledge.
The superior claims Of Fr0sbel's
method may be urged upon all educa-
tiOnsl departments In common school
system. Now that the universal neces.
sity of education Is admitted, the best
methods should be followed, and the
school rooms made to contribute to q
harmonious inner life, and harmonious
outer living and development.
In the school room, as Ia the family,
the less reason, the more government.
Where reason prevails there Ia no ty-
rant master nor trembling and subser.
Went object, but all ioyfully cooper
ate. 90 .Vl4 .-- 7o .
In teaching, 1t Is not advisable to un-
dertske too much; to require too much
of the pupils. Instead Of gain, this is
always loss, not to say, an injury. An
Illustration Of folly Of this kind has
been given In Canton for years, In pri-
mary schools where pupils are supposed
to be taught English and German at the
same time. 1t Is we'll we have not had
French, Italian and Danish added, for
these natiOnalities also are represented
In Canton.
Qusckery Of this kind should really
be abandoned. Teachers, and all others,
should rem smber what French writer
says: "TO acquire few tongues is the
task Of few years; but to be eloquent
In one Is the labor Of life." Even
learned, or unlearned, ounces should
le m this. A CITIZEN.